Microsoft to challenge Google Base

By Steve Malone

Posted on 1 Dec 2005 at 10:29

Microsoft is planning a rival to the newly-launched Google Base, it has been revealed. The new Microsoft service currently codenamed 'Fremont' is said to allow users to post their own classified advertisements on the web alongside contact details.

As with Google Base, visitors will be invited to post their own content onto the website along with contact details that will then be made available to the online community via the MSN search engine. According to reports, Microsoft will enhance the listing with things like local maps.

This capability is similar to a move made by Google last week when it announced that it would include local merchants into its shopping search engine Froogle. The content from Google Base is also being included in the Froogle database.

The new Microsoft service, whose official name has yet to be decided, will be introduced as part of the new Microsoft Live.com initiative and will be aimed at smaller sellers who may have a limited web presence or who lack any e-commerce capability.

Live.com, which was launched last month, is being promoted by Microsoft as part of its Web 2.0 strategy. The site consists of a suite of online tools and applications for small businesses or employees on the road. As such, providing a low cost advertising medium like 'Fremont' would add extra functionality and an attractive storefront for small businesses that want to promote their goods and services.

At present it is available only to Microsoft employees at Fremont.live.com although Microsoft is saying that it expects to open the service to public beta next month.

Given the intense rivalry of the major search engines at present, we can presumably expect an announcement from Yahoo! offering a similar service in the next few weeks.